architecture in japan surveys the contemporary condition of the country’s built environment, showcasing a range of innovative projects and the diverse materials and unconventional forms employed in their construction.

SANAA (sejima and nishizawa and associates) is an architectural firm based in tokyo, japan. the studio was founded in 1995 by architects kazuyo sejima and ryue nishizawa who were awarded the pritzker prize in 2010. notable works include the toledo museum of art's glass pavilion in toledo, ohio; the new museum of contemporary art in new york; the rolex learning center at the EPFL in lausanne; the serpentine pavilion in london; the christian dior building in omotesandō, tokyo; the 21st century museum of contemporary art in kanazawa; and the louvre-lens museum in france.

overlooking the inland sea to the north, the collaborative project was designed to interact with its wooded surrounding, pushing the tangible boundary between architecture and nature. two large elliptical openings define and orient the space while letting the interior collect pieces of the elements: pools of water accumulate on the floor and freely shift and migrate according to the breeze’s direction; the sounds from the sea and foliage reverberate through the open space while the ambiance is in constant change according to the sun’s position and time of day.

at 25 cm thick, the white concrete pod shell is devoid of any pillars or visible structural aid. the gallery space is not a result of encapsulation but a careful negotiation between the earth and the sky. visitors are encouraged to freely walk around the 40 by 60 meter museum and connect with the present phenomena.

a meandering path around the site take visitors around mt. myojin, a small bluff between the museum and the sea. the form and presence of the structure seemingly fluctuates with the observer’s vantage point, much like a dynamic drop of water traveling across a surface.

made possible by the patronage of the naoshima fukutake art museum foundation, the teshima art museum will continue to operate after the festival, hosting activities involving art, architecture, food, the environment, and other creative intersections.

about ryue nishizawa: born in 1966, nishizawa joined kazuyo sejima & associates in 1990, established SANAA with her in 1995, and established his own practice in 1997. along with sejima, he was awarded the pritzker architecture prize in 2010. significant works include, ‘honmura lounge and archive’ (2005, naoshima), ‘moriyama house’ (2005, tokyo), and the ‘towada art center’ (2008, aomori).

He gave a lecture in my college this year, I believe it was in August or September and he showed this project while in construction. The process is simply amazing, they did the shape of the “drop” with earth, then they covered it with steel and then filled with cement. They let if dry for a month and then started digging the earth out.

After the lecture I searched the net for more info about it and couldn’t find anything. I’m glad to see if finished, simply great.

For additional critical discussion of the Teshima Art Museum, be sure to check the review in the Japan Times by Julian Worrall: [url=http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fa20101126a1.html] Looking beyond art’s boundaries.[/url]

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